Buska Lodge

Buska Lodge is located outside Turmi on the banks of the Keske River in the remote, arid Omo Valley. The area is home to the Hamer, Karo, Dassanech and other local tribes, offering a rare opportunity to experience their unique heritage.

Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Modest and eco-friendly lodge close to Turmi, in the Omo Valley
A tranquil, lush and radiant sanctuary in South Omo
Customary Ethiopian alfresco restaurant with appetising European and Ethiopian cuisine and wonderful fresh coffee
An ideal base from which to encounter the lives of the south Omo tribes including the remarkable Hamer people

Buska Lodge, named after the Buska Mountain, is a relaxed and friendly lodge situated outside the small town of Turmi in the Southern Ethiopian Omo Valley. The lodge is settled in beautiful, tranquil gardens, and while the journey to get here is quite long and for the tenacious, it is well worthwhile. The gardens themselves warrant an afternoon's exploring, with over 100 plant species to be found. The lodge has just twenty en-suite stone and thatch rooms dotted about the gardens, each with a circular main room and decorated in a muted tone, with Ethiopian fabrics lending splashes of color.

There is a choice of two restaurants which serve fairly basic European and Ethiopian food such as goat curries, injera and beans, and the lodge is known for performing the famous Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

While here you are perfectly positioned to explore the fascinating cultures and traditions of the local Hamer People, who are known for their Evangadi dance and the famed (and dangerous) “Bull jumping” ceremony, which you may have the privilege of witnessing. This is a ceremony designed to test a young man's mettle before marriage. He is expected to run and jump over a line of bulls to show his worth to the bride's family and it's an exciting spectacle! Also on offer here are walks to explore the surrounding area, bird watching and nature trips.

When to visit